Healthy Aging

There are many different strategies for maintaining one's health; sometimes it gets
overwhelming to focus on several issues all at once. There are five top research
backed ways to remain healthy, both physically and mentally and these are to exercise,
manage stress, have proper nutrition, get adequate sleep, and stay active both mentally
and socially.

The benefits of regular exercise for people of all ages have been well established.
Regular exercise is associated with decreased death and/or disability from pathologies
such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and pulmonary disease.
It is also associated with positive psychological benefits such as decreased depression
and improved quality of life.

Everybody experiences stress. It's the body's natural reaction to tension, pressure
and change. A certain amount of stress makes life challenging and less boring, but
too much can be bad for you– both physically and mentally. Prolonged stress can lead
to accidental injury or serious health problems. For the sake of your health, safety
and happiness, it's important to recognize and manage stress before it does you harm.

Your body changes as you age, but those changes don't have to lead to health problems
or limit your independence, energy or enthusiasm for the activities you enjoy. By
making healthy lifestyle choices, you can prevent certain health problems and keep
chronic conditions from getting worse. Combined with physical activity, eating nutritious
foods in the right amounts can help keep you healthy.

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), approximately 74% of American adults
experience a sleeping problem more than once a week, 39% get less than seven hours
of sleep each weeknight, and 37% are so sleepy during the day that it interferes with
their daily activities. In the past century, we have dramatically reduced our average
time in sleep. Though our society has changed, our brains and bodies have not. Sleep
deprivation is becoming a national problem.

Social activity makes physical and mental activity more fun, as well as reduces stress
levels. As result, healthy connections among brain cells are better maintained. People
who maintain strong social connections with friends, loved ones and confidants also
have lower risks of just about every type of illness, including heart disease and
Alzheimer's disease. Left unchecked, older adults who lose meaningful relationships
and engagement with people are greater risk of becoming depressed, marginalized by
society, losing their physical and mental vitality, and becoming at greater risk for
long term care.